No one dreams of spending a night twisting and turning to find their position and try not to get cold. The importance of choosing the right sleeping bag is often underestimated. Even if it is not necessarily the miracle solution to all your problems, it will help you to find sleep and to have a good recovery after a long day of effort. Materials used, shape, comfort temperature... So many elements that must be taken into account. We explain you everything on how to choose your sleeping bag!

A good weight/insulation ratio

Bags made of natural down are the lightest, most compressible and warmest thanks to their better inflating power. The major disadvantage of this type of bag is that they are more sensitive to moisture and therefore less efficient when exposed to a wet element.

Conversely, sleeping bags made of synthetic fibers are less compressible, heavier and provide less warmth. However, this type of bag is perfectly resistant to humidity, easy to maintain and dries more quickly (only a few hours).

Find our selection of brands offering sleeping bags with a good weight/insulation ratio:

Comfort temperature, limit, extreme

This is the element you need to focus on. Depending on the temperature outside where you plan to spend the night, it is important that your sleeping bag is designed to handle it.

The comfort temperature is often the first temperature listed on the product label. This is the temperature that will keep you warm enough to sleep in a relaxed position (on your back with your arms by your sides) without feeling any thermal imbalance.

The limit temperature corresponds to the one where your sleep is disturbed by the effects of the cold without endangering your life.

Finally, the extreme temperature is the one that you should never reach at all costs, to avoid the risk of hypothermia. You should never use this temperature as your only reference point.

Obviously, each person feels things in their own way and the notion of "cold" varies from one person to another. Don't hesitate to take into account whether or not you are rather cold in your daily life. For a person who is cold, for example, choose a sleeping bag with a comfort temperature of 5°C for a temperature felt at 10°C.

Our selection of sleeping bags with a comfort temperature between -10°C and 0°C :

PRODUCT EXPERT ADVICE:


Nicolas - Buyer camping universe
 To sleep comfortably and spend a restful night, it is not necessary to wear several layers of clothing. If you have been careful when choosing your sleeping bag, one layer will be enough. Remember to warm your extremities with gloves, socks... For more warmth, there are sleeping bag sheets to optimize the heat inside the bag. And don't forget your pillow!

A good weight/volume ratio

It is imperative that you choose a sleeping bag whose volume and weight will not act as a disruptive force during your adventure.

There are models that are larger and heavier than others. In short, if you are going on a family camping trip and you don't lack space, it is not essential to choose the lightest and most compact bag. On the other hand, if you are going to spend several days on the top of the most beautiful mountains, then you will have to opt for a compact and ultra-light format. This will prevent the sleeping bag from taking up too much space in your backpack, to the detriment of other important items.

Is the shape important?

This criterion should not be neglected when choosing a sleeping bag.

For an overnight camping trip, choose a rectangular shape. You won't feel that cramped feeling around your feet, so you'll be comfortable.

For a night in a bivouac, the "mummy" type bag will be perfect. With its tight shape around the feet, where no room is left for unnecessary volume and cold spots. The shape fits perfectly to the curves of your body to better insulate you from the cold throughout the night. Often, this type of bag has a hood to keep your head warm.

Rectangular shape Mummy" shape


Discover a list of rectangular or "mummy" sleeping bags:

Whether you go camping or bivouacking, focus on comfort. If you feel too cramped in a "mummy" sleeping bag, you can find one with a more flared shape, especially for the feet. The main thing is to make sure that you will be comfortable to sleep in it as if you were at home. Make sure to pay attention to the insulation because privileging comfort at the expense of a good insulation is not a very good idea because you will not sleep very well anyway if you are cold.


TO KNOW

 For your children, there are evolutionary sleeping bags that adapt to the child's growth and last longer. No need to change them every year!
You can find this type of product in the collection of the brand Deuter.

Bonus tips:

For an optimal experience, it is essential to pay special attention to all the elements that will help you have a pleasant night.

Use an air mattress or a ground sheet to isolate you from the ground and from cold and damp places. This will keep your sleeping

bag dry all night long.

Choose a tent that is large enough to prevent the sleeping bag from being in direct contact with the tent walls. Condensation inside the tent could wet the walls and compromise the durability of the sleeping bag if it dries poorly afterwards.

-> How to choose your tent for camping and hiking <-

For a night under the stars, you can use an oversack

, to protect you from the humidity of the ground, the air, and thus bring a better waterproofness to your sleeping bag.

Make sure you also look at the accessories offered on the sleeping bag for extra comfort.

TO REMEMBER:

  • It is important to make sure that the sleeping bag's weight/insulation ratio corresponds to the excursion you have chosen.
  • Checking that the sleeping bag will allow you to survive the temperatures that are expected on your adventure is very important.
  • Making sure that the sleeping bag will not take up too much space during your ascent is essential to get the most out of it.
  • Choose a shape that is adapted to the style of adventure you are going to experience.